A New Jersey grand jury filed a no bill yesterday against a Jersey City police officer who fatally returned fire against a gunman in October 2025, meaning they found the shooting justified and no charges will be filed.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The October 21st, 2025 death of Teshawn Rogers, 27, was investigated by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) and presented to New Jersey residents serving on the grand jury in accordance with the Independent Prosecutor Directive of 2019.
This was issued following the enactment of a state law requiring the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office to investigate deaths that occur during an encounter with law enforcement.
The investigation included a review of surveillance video footage, body-worn camera footage, witness statements, medical records, and autopsy results from the medical examiner.
This evidence was presented to a state grand jury. After hearing the testimony and evidence, the grand jury finished its deliberations on August 10, 2026, and voted “no bill,” meaning jurors concluded no criminal charges should be filed against any involved officers.
The fatal police encounter involved members of the Jersey City Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit, a unit that consists of plainclothes officers and utilizes unmarked vehicles.
According to the investigation, officers assigned to the unit encountered Rogers in the area of Bergen and Virginia avenues shortly after 1:00 a.m.
As he was walking northbound on Bergen Avenue, two officers in an unmarked vehicle pulled to the side of the road ahead of Rogers. At that time, the suspect immediately discharged a firearm and ran southbound.
The officers in the first vehicle did not discharge their weapons.
A separate police vehicle containing additional members of the unit pulled to the side of the road as Rogers ran southbound. Police Officer Lance Jackson exited from the passenger side of that vehicle and discharged his weapon, striking Rogers.
Emergency medical aid was provided before Rogers was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 1:44 a.m. A firearm was recovered at the scene.
Body-worn camera and surveillance footage, as well as radio transmissions, were previously released in February, as HCV first reported.
“What the f***! What the f***!” Rogers screams after firing his weapon, appearing shocked and not expecting a violent confrontation.
“Lance, you good?” another officer asks. “I’m good,” Jackson responds.
“Everybody good???” an officer arriving on the scene asks.
“We’re good, we’re all accounted,” another officer answers.
State statute requires the AG’s Office to conduct investigations of a person’s death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while the decedent is in custody.
It also requires that all such investigations be presented to a grand jury to determine if the evidence supports the return of an indictment against the involved officers.
The grand jury is instructed on the elements of the potential criminal offenses, including criminal homicide offenses, that could be brought and as required by statutes, the grand jury is instructed on self-defense and other forms of legal justification.
Further, a conflicts check was conducted pursuant to the Independent Prosecutor Directive and no actual or potential conflicts of interest were found involving any individual assigned to OPIA’s investigation.
Prior to presentation to the grand jury, the investigation was reviewed by an Independent Supervisory Reviewer in accordance with the policies and procedures established for these presentations.
